Elden Ring: A Tarnished’s Guide to Optimal Exploration

So, you’ve picked up Elden Ring, the sprawling, challenging, and utterly captivating open-world masterpiece from FromSoftware. Congratulations! Now, where do you even begin? The Lands Between are vast and unforgiving, and the order in which you tackle its regions can significantly impact your experience. Here’s a breakdown of a recommended progression path, designed to balance challenge, reward, and narrative coherence, specifically tailored for your first playthrough:

Limgrave (West & East) & Weeping Peninsula: This is your starting zone for a reason. West Limgrave introduces you to the core mechanics, enemy types, and open-world exploration. Don’t rush through! Thoroughly explore, find Sites of Grace, level up, and acquire essential items. East Limgrave, including Mistwood, provides a slightly increased challenge but also better rewards. After mastering Limgrave, head south to the Weeping Peninsula. It offers a gentler difficulty curve than some of the later areas and is packed with valuable early-game equipment and upgrade materials.

Stormveil Castle: This legacy dungeon is technically optional, but skipping it drastically alters the game’s narrative flow. Defeating Godrick the Grafted is a significant step towards becoming Elden Lord. Don’t attempt Stormveil until you’re comfortable with the combat system and have a decent weapon upgrade level (ideally +3 to +6).

Liurnia of the Lakes (South & North): After Stormveil, head north to Liurnia. The southern part of the region provides a gradual transition in difficulty. Explore the various lakeshores, villages, and dungeons. The northern part culminates in the Raya Lucaria Academy, another mandatory legacy dungeon and home to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. Liurnia is a crucial area for mage builds, offering numerous sorceries and staffs.

Altus Plateau: There are two main ways to access Altus Plateau: the Grand Lift of Dectus or the perilous Ruin-Strewn Precipice. The Lift is generally recommended for a first playthrough as it’s less challenging. Altus Plateau is home to the Royal Capital, Leyndell, and offers a significant jump in enemy difficulty. Explore the outskirts, gather resources, and prepare yourself before venturing into the capital.

Caelid: While technically accessible early, Caelid is best tackled after Altus Plateau. The region’s oppressive atmosphere, hostile environment, and challenging enemies can be overwhelming for unprepared players. However, Caelid is crucial for acquiring powerful weapons and upgrades. Tackle it in smaller chunks, focusing on specific dungeons or objectives.

Leyndell, Royal Capital: This legacy dungeon represents a major turning point in the game. Defeating Morgott, the Omen King, is required to progress further. Leyndell is a complex and rewarding area, filled with secrets and challenging encounters.

Mountaintops of the Giants: After Leyndell, the path leads north to the frigid Mountaintops of the Giants. This region features a steep difficulty curve and is home to some of the most challenging bosses in the game. Ensure you’re properly leveled and equipped before venturing here.

Farum Azula: This optional area is only accessible late in the game and is recommended before facing the final bosses. It’s a floating, crumbling city that offers unique challenges, formidable enemies, and valuable loot.

Consecrated Snowfield: A hidden area accessible via the Haligtree Secret Medallion, the Consecrated Snowfield is an optional area that contains the path to the Haligtree and is worth exploring before facing the end game bosses.

Miquella’s Haligtree: Home to Malenia, Blade of Miquella, often considered the hardest boss in the game, the Haligtree is an optional late game area.

Endgame (Leyndell, Ashen Capital and Beyond): After the Mountaintops and optional areas, Leyndell transforms, leading to the final encounters and the path to becoming Elden Lord. The order of the final bosses is relatively linear from this point.

Important Considerations:

• Level Scaling: Elden Ring doesn’t have strict level scaling. Entering a region significantly underleveled will result in a frustrating experience.
• Weapon Upgrades: Upgrading your weapons is just as crucial as leveling up. Invest in smithing stones and somber smithing stones to enhance your damage output.
• Spirit Ashes: Don’t underestimate the power of Spirit Ashes. These summons can be invaluable in difficult boss fights and challenging areas.
• Experimentation: Elden Ring encourages experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try different weapons, builds, and strategies.
• Online Resources: If you’re stuck, don’t hesitate to consult online guides or communities. However, try to avoid spoilers as much as possible to preserve the sense of discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it necessary to play other Souls games before Elden Ring?

No, absolutely not. Elden Ring is designed to be accessible to new players. While experience with other FromSoftware games might provide a slight advantage, it’s by no means a requirement. Elden Ring introduces its own unique mechanics and systems, and the open-world structure allows you to explore at your own pace.

What is the best starting class for a beginner in Elden Ring?

The Vagabond or the Prisoner are often recommended for beginners. The Vagabond has high Vigor and Strength, making it durable and capable of wielding heavy weapons. The Prisoner offers a good balance of melee and magic, allowing you to experiment with different playstyles.

What should I do first when I start Elden Ring?

1. Visit the Church of Elleh to meet Merchant Kalé and potentially receive the Spirit Calling Bell.
2. Find the Limgrave map fragments to reveal the area on your map.
3. Explore the surrounding areas, focusing on smaller dungeons and side quests.
4. Level up your character and upgrade your weapons.
5. Don’t fight the Tree Sentinel right away! Come back later when you’re stronger.

How important are side quests in Elden Ring?

Side quests are incredibly important. They provide valuable rewards, such as weapons, armor, spells, and lore information. They also often lead to unique and challenging boss fights.

Is it okay to skip areas in Elden Ring?

While Elden Ring offers a great degree of freedom, skipping major areas can lead to being underleveled for later encounters. It’s generally recommended to thoroughly explore each region before moving on.

What do Runes do in Elden Ring?

Runes are the primary currency in Elden Ring. They are used to level up your character at Sites of Grace and to purchase items from merchants.

Can I respec my character in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can respec your character’s stats by defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, at the Raya Lucaria Academy. This allows you to reallocate your stats as long as you have a Larval Tear item.

Are summons overpowered in Elden Ring?

Summons, both Spirit Ashes and player summons, can significantly impact the difficulty of the game. They can provide valuable support in boss fights and challenging areas. However, some players prefer to play without summons for a more challenging experience.

What’s the best way to level up quickly in Elden Ring?

There are several ways to level up quickly. One popular method is to farm specific enemy groups that provide a high number of runes. Explore the different areas to find rune farming spots. Also, try using golden runes to get some extra runes.

Is Elden Ring too hard for casual gamers?

Elden Ring can be challenging, but it’s also a rewarding experience. The open-world structure allows you to approach challenges at your own pace. Don’t be afraid to use summons, online resources, and experiment with different strategies.

Should I beat Elden Ring before the DLC comes out?

It’s generally recommended to beat Elden Ring before the DLC releases to fully understand the lore and be prepared for the new challenges the DLC will bring. However, FromSoftware DLCs are often designed to be accessible at different points in the main game.

How do I find secret areas in Elden Ring?

Secret areas are often hidden behind illusory walls, requiring you to attack or roll into them. Keep an eye out for unusual architecture, suspicious-looking walls, or areas that seem out of place.

What is the best weapon in Elden Ring?

There is no single “best” weapon in Elden Ring. The best weapon depends on your playstyle, build, and personal preference. Experiment with different weapons to find one that suits you.

Is Elden Ring the hardest FromSoftware game?

While challenging, Elden Ring is often considered less difficult than some of the earlier Souls games due to its open-world structure, the availability of summons, and the ability to respec your character.

Where can I learn more about game design and the impact of games on learning?

To further explore the educational aspects of gaming and game design, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization delves into the intersection of games and learning.